Delicate question for pet owners

[Connonym]

What would you do with a 17-year old cat who has lost control of his bowels and squirts them all around the house multiple times a day? Medically the vet says there's nothing to do except "you'll know when it's time." The only thing I can think of is to keep him locked in the bathroom with a litter box and at it would be easier/more sanitary to clean off tile than carpet, furniture or beds. Is there quality of life living alone in a bathroom?

[Omphaloskepsis]

1. Honestly.. If it was my cat.

I would have it put to sleep. We can't talk to cats so we have no idea what else is going on. It might be pooping all over the place because something else is wrong. And that other thing might be really painful for the cat.

That was worded poorly and might have errors.. I'm sorry.. I am doing 50 things at once right now... Good luck.

[huskerlaw]

2. Part of "you'll know when it's time"

is figuring out the quality of life balance. Unfortunately, nobody can really answer this for you.

As for what I would do, I guess it would depend on the cat. Is he in pain? Does he still enjoy life? Would he be really unhappy in the bathroom, or is he sick enough that he won't really care?

For me, when my cat was in the last stages of his illness, what did it for me, ultimately, was when he was so miserable that he could no longer find it in himself to purr. He'd been in pain for a while, but it was manageable with drugs and overall he was happy. He would purr and respond to human touch. And then one day he couldn't do that anymore. That was when the balance tipped for me.

But that balance is different for everyone. The vet is right...you'll know.

[ThomCat]

3. If your cat is still happy, and if you can give the cat a lot fo affection.

Then the bathroom might not be a bad idea. You'll be spending a lot of time in there with the cat.

If he's going to be alone in there, and just waiting to deteriorate, then I couldn't do that to a cat. :(

I'm sorry for both of you. This is a difficult time. Whatever you do, hugs for both of you. :hug:

[dropkickpa]

4. For me

It's always a struggle to figure out where my feelings and desires conflict what is best for the animal. I struggled with that mightily with my old gloden, and I now feel I held on too long for my own selfish reasons.

[xchrom]

5. the cat's life versus what you're willing to put up with.

i mean that's if the cat is otherwise healthy and having whatever is a good time for your 17 year old cat.

[badgerpup]

6. If the cat is big enough, and otherwise quality of life is OK...

Small doggie-in-heat pads.
I was considering this for my little Merlin. He had Feline Intestinal Peritonitis, which is a wasting rather than a painful disease, and it left him too weak to make it to the litter box.
I did 'potty' him every hour or so, but he went on his own schedule.

[tmlanders]

7. When my 13 year old dog had a brain tumor

I think I held on too long. He was the first dog I ever had, my very first "puppy love". He was on meds to kill some of the pain so I thought he was OK. When my older son came back from college for a weekend I asked him what he thought, and what he thought was that it was time. Stashie was spending his days walking around in circles. He also had issues with continence, so he spent the day in the bathroom with my other 2 dogs. That was a HUGE problem, because if he pooped he would do his walking in circles thing, which meant that dried poop covered the entire bathroom floor when I got home at night. Even that couldn't convince me to let him go. But my son was much more realistic and observant, and he was able to see what I wouldn't. He came with me to the vet's where we held Stash and cried our eyes out. Now I can see that it was past time, but when you are in the middle of it it is hard to see things clearly. You may want to have someone else who has known your cat give you an idea of what they see.

Good luck... :cry: